Ahead of an event for thousands of Southwest Employees in Nashville, airline Leaders announced that the carrier will be adding five departures a day Monday through Friday for nonstop travel between Nashville and Atlanta beginning Aug. 7, 2018. The route will be offered three times a day on Saturdays and Sundays.

"This new route answers business community requests in both Nashville and Atlanta and we look forward to showing how our low fares, no change fees*, and Hospitality will resonate and make travel easier between these two growing cities," said Trevor Stedke, Vice President of Technical Operations and Southwest's executive ambassador to Nashville. "The routes offered with the schedule extension through the third quarter of 2018 reinforce our long-standing commitment to connect People and communities to what's important to them with friendly, reliable, low-cost air travel."

"Southwest Airlines' decision to add nonstop service to Atlanta out of Nashville International Airport will be welcomed by travelers to and from Nashville, particularly within the business community, which has long-sought more such service," said Doug Kreulen, Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority president and CEO. "This new route brings competition to that market and provides additional options for our passengers. As a valued business partner for more than 30 years at BNA, Southwest Airlines again demonstrates its continued commitment to and investment in our airport and the city of Nashville."

*A fare difference might apply.

Growing Los Angeles

The airline continues to strengthen its service in California by announcing a new nonstop route linking Los Angeles area Customers to Florida with daily nonstop service between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Tampa beginning Aug. 7, 2018.

Also beginning Aug. 7, 2018, the carrier will add frequency with one additional daily flight on the following routes:

Between LAX and New Orleans

Increased to three roundtrips on weekdays

Between LAX and Portland, Ore.

Increased to three daily roundtrips on weekdays

Southwest also announced its daily nonstop seasonal service between Los Angeles and Omaha will be offered year-round beginning June 7, 2018.

Cincinnati Goes Mile-High

Cincinnati Customers will see their first daily nonstop service to Denver beginning Aug. 7, 2018. This route complements the carrier's five daily flights between Chicago and Cincinnati and three daily flights between Baltimore and Cincinnati.

Throughout March 2018, the carrier will also offer daily nonstop service between Cincinnati and Phoenix.

Midwest Additions

Southwest is adding more nonstop service from St. Louis and Kansas City, Mo., strengthening its position as the state's biggest airline in terms of daily departures.

Beginning April 8, 2018, the carrier will add daily nonstop service between Kansas City, Mo. and Raleigh-Durham, N.C.

Beginning Aug. 7, 2018, the carrier will add daily nonstop service between St. Louis and Hartford, Conn.

Additionally, the carrier remains on-track with its intention to sell tickets this year to Hawaii, subject to requisite governmental approvals.

The carrier continues to expect its 2018 available seat miles to grow in the low five percent range, year-over-year. To book a seat on these or any flight, visit Southwest.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Specific forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements related to the Company's anticipated service offerings and fares and network and capacity plans, opportunities, and expectations. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by them. Factors include, among others, (i) the impact of economic conditions, consumer behavior, fuel prices, actions of competitors (including without limitation pricing, scheduling, capacity, and network decisions, and consolidation and alliance activities), and other factors beyond the Company's control, on the Company's business decisions, plans, and strategies; (ii) the Company's ability to timely and effectively maintain the necessary information technology systems and infrastructure to support its operations and initiatives; (iii) the impact of governmental regulations and other governmental actions related to the Company's operations; and (iv) other factors, as described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the detailed factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2017.

In its 47th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 56,000 Employees to a Customer base topping 120 million passengers annually, in recent years. Southwest became the nation's largest domestic air carrier in 2003 and maintains that ranking based on the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent reporting of domestic originating passengers boarded. During peak travel seasons, Southwest operates more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 100 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries. Southwest has announced its intention to sell tickets in 2018 for service to Hawaii, subject to requisite governmental approvals.

Southwest coined Transfarency to describe its purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and low fares actually staying low. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly freeto everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in qualified circumstances), and there are no change fees, though fare differences might apply.

As launch customer of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 in North America, the Company operates the largest fleet in the world of Boeing aircraft, all of which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi. Customers who connect to the WiFi network may use their personal devices to view on-demand movies and television shows, as well as nearly 20 channels of free, live TV.

With a bold new look first unveiled in 2014, Southwest is progressing through a multi-year refresh of its fleet to showcase the carrier's Heart: a new logo, aircraft livery, interior design featuring new seats, Employee-designed uniforms, and an updated airport experience, all of which showcase a dedication of Southwest Employees to connect Customers with what's important in their lives.

From its first flights on June 18, 1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and increase in passenger traffic wherever the carrier serves. With 45 consecutive years of profitability, Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet.